> the pc's (what is the "proper" plural for pc?)

Try "PCs" or maybe "peecees" :) -- an apostrophe seems not proper, in any
case.

> will be on my local network, all will be behind a firewall,

That's definitely a good thing, for any type of system.

> and only one mac will be used online.  downloads will be done to the mac
> and then sent over the network, preferably when i'm offline.

You still may want to keep the virus scanner on the peecees :) up to date.
I'm not sure whether the scanners available for the Mac get updated with
the same frequency (for example when a new one spreads around).

> you may think that's paranoid,

I've been online with my PC for many years (and since a few years a number
of other people on our LAN are, too), without a problem. Most infections
happen because there is no firewall in front, and/or the virus scanner is
not up to date, and/or the user did something really out there.

Gerhard

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